Lessons in Mythology

This week marked the beginning of my third semester as a returning college student. So far, my mythology class holds my interest more than any other.

My mythology professor is young, female, pretty, and very energetic. She has an exciting way of exploring world myths that make me think of mythology in general as something more than just stories of ancient cultures.

Yesterday we were talking about truth. This came up after a few students gave definitions of the word 'myth' that contained things like 'fraudulent' and 'false'. She told the class about two Native American myths concerning what happens after death. The professor began by telling us that the myths were "thousands and thousands of years old".

The two nations of Native people lived across the country from each other but their afterlife myth was almost exactly the same. The myth stated that after death a person's spirit ascended through the atmosphere and up into the Milky Way. The Milky Way was then traveled as a labyrinth-like road that led to a black hole (a mystical portal) through which the spirit would go through to reach the otherworld.

I would say that most of us would see this myth as some kind of story full of symbols and obscure metaphors. I think that is how the bulk of humanity sees mythology - at least the mythology of others. (One person's mythology is another person's religion.) But it turns out that some years ago Astronomers found a black hole just outside the Milky Way in the exact place that the Native American tribes said it would be.

This blew me away. You see, I have a habit of "robbing myself of the magick" or at least that's what Raven Grimassi told me at last year's Pagan Pride. I am too analytical, too rooted in science. I want something or someone to prove to me what is real and what is false. This story made me realize that just because we have yet to find some way to prove a fact through the use of science does not mean that it can not be true. Let me rephrase. I had realized this before, but this experience made me believe it as more than a cop-out that allows us to hold on to our beliefs.

Truth is one of the most subjective ideas in existence. We all have our own versions of it - our own realties - and they are what is truly 'real' to each of us.

I think what my Professor gave me yesterday was hope. I no longer feel that I need to prove to myself or anyone else what is real to me. I see now that I can find the truth in anything within myself. I've always thought that I followed the "answers are within you" model. Now I see that I was only half right about that concept.

Thank you Mother
For the opportunities that you lay at my feet each day.
I am blessed with many gifts,
The greatest of which is the knowledge of your love.
I banish fear and doubt
And embrace confidence and faith.
I am one with the shining light that is the Great Goddess.